Analysis of the Consequences of the Columbian Exchange

Many have heard the saying, “In fourteen ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue,” but the events and changes that ensue after his expeditions to America are what really make a noteworthy impact on the world. Your documentation of these events in 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created provides a compellingly new perspective to the way in which voyagers including Columbus contributed to the globalization that changed the world during the 15th century onward.

Using a blend of both scientific data as well as historical insight, you are able to provide a very insightful look into how Columbus’ homogenization of civilizations on two completely different continents affected the environmental, economic, and social world as he crossed the Atlantic into the Americas. You present an astute yet engaging perspective to the changes that occur in the 15th century world; by tying in the scientific and historical aspects, you are able to describe both the environmental as well as the social impacts on the world brought on by the Columbian and Galleon Trade.

Your scientific knowledge, specifically in invasive species and their effect on native crops and soil give a telling view of how the introduction of new wildlife and animals caused such huge change on the environment in the Americas. In the case of Tobacco, which became such a major staple in New England’s economy, the invasive crop caused a large shift in the makeup of the wildlife on the land. You give insight as to how this shift occurred, explaining how tobacco outcompeted the native plants in the area by draining the soil of its nutrients more efficiently. You also explain that along with Tobacco, the Columbian Exchange introduced other life such as earthworms and diseases including malaria, smallpox, and yellow fever.

You explain that the reintroduction of earthworms caused a similar effect on the native crops; the earthworms converted the nutrients in the soil into a form inaccessible to native crops, furthering the success of invasive species such as Tobacco. Malaria, smallpox, and yellow fever had profound effects on the people populating New England, as it affected some groups of people more than it did others. While those from West and Central Africa were practically immune to these diseases, others such as Native Americans and white plantation owners were very susceptible to dying from infection.

With your historical knowledge, you are able to tie in the scientific aspects of the Columbian Exchange to explain the social changes that occured. Because Tobacco was such a popular international commodity, it became an important part of the economy and colonists continued to take over Native American land to grow more of the crop. However, growing the crop on the new land was difficult due to the diseases brought along with it. As most ethnic groups, including Native Americans and white colonists, were susceptible to contracting malaria and yellow fever, it was difficult to find labor for tobacco farms. However, you explain that those of African descent were less likely to be affected by these diseases, causing plantation owners with African American slaves to be more successful in comparison to those with indentured servants and other laborers. While not a direct cause of slavery spreading across America, disease was definitely a part of the epidemic.

While your very detailed knowledge of the historical background as well as scientific expertise behind the Columbian and Galleon exchange give a very insightful look to your reader on the social and environmental changes of the world, some details can seem to be unnecessary to the overall documentation as you seem to ramble on. For example, details including the scientific names of certain plants and pictures of monuments of the nation in your piece seem unnecessary. While interesting, these specific details are unimportant to the overall purpose of your work.

While discussing the economical effects of the exchange between Spain and China including the transition of China’s currency from the bronze coin to include silver and paper money, you reference Richard von Glahn, “a historian at the University of California at Los Angeles who specializes in the history of Chinese currency,” specifically his article detailing the transition of China’s currency from using paper notes, bronze coins, and uncoined silver to a system dominated by silver. In this article, von Glahn describes how the currency changes under the rule of the Song and Mongol Yuan dynasties; several methods are used throughout the years, eventually shifting from the bronze coin standard to silver.

You use this article to specifically to reinforce the idea that there were defects in the bronze coin system as well as the need for change, detailing the ways in which the Chinese dynasties tried to fix the issues. You indicate earlier that “because bronze was not especially valuable, a single coin wasn’t worth much,” referring to von Glahn’s article, stating that to describe the Song dynasty’s solution to this problem, which was to string the coins together, though this was not a permanent fix to the problem.

You also reference his article to point to another defect in the bronze coin system, as the “empire ultimately didn’t have enough copper to keep up with the demand for coins.” You then go on to describe other solutions the dynasties had for their currency problems, referencing the huizi, “the first modern paper currency” as described by von Glahn.

You resourcefully incorporate von Glahn’s expertise of Chinese currency into your composition, describing the effects of the interactions between Spain and China as silver became an important part of China’s economy. First you describe failings of the Chinese economic system and currency and the shift into a new and improved currency; then, you bring in von Glahn’s knowledge of how the Song dynasty dealt with the failing bronze coin system to provide more insight to the topic. You reference several of the empire’s methods to dealing with the invaluable currency, including the short string method and the huizi paper money lined with silver.

In addition to the peer reviewed articles such as the one by von Glahn, you also reference scientific sources such as scientific journals to enforce findings about the environmental effects of the introduction certain alien species into America. In the context of this economic breakdown of Chinese currency, the source was used well in that it provided necessary information as to why China needed such urgent change in their economic systems.

Overall, your piece describing the effects voyagers such as Columbus, Legazpi, and Urdaneta had on the 15th century world gave an interesting new perspective to the homogenesis between two continents. In describing the consequences of the Columbian exchange including the introduction of foreign wildlife and diseases, you blended your own scientific and historical analysis with that of other experts, giving an insightful look into the globalization of the world.